Monday, October 31, 2005
Moose exodus
One reader of this blog made a comment on her own web log. The subject was the matter of the Scanian moose problem (below) and the generous issue of hunting licenses in Skåne. Her comments are extremely observant and tremendously funny (perhaps not for the Scanian moose). Read all about it here.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Overkill
The Länsstyrelsen decides how many moose are allowed to be shot in Skåne. They are the ones allocating the licences to the huntsmen. According to the newspapers, the state government has issued enough licences to kill off all of the moose in Skåne – about 2000 of them. If all the licences are utilised there would be no moose left in the province. But the Scanian public has no say in the matter; the state civil servant at the Länsstyrelsen is under the authority of the state government and not the regional government in the province. Our own regional government would probably be more likely to care about our moose population. The state government does not seem to bother too much. And that’s bad. At least for the moose in Skåne.Second language?
According to an article in the papers a public opinion poll asked the people of the European Union: “Are you able to speak a second language, apart from your mother tongue?”. Yes, said half of all citizens of Europe. The highest response 99 percent came from Luxembourg. Sweden 88 percent. France 45 and Great Britain 30 percent. Hungary scored the lowest, 29 percent.
It is interesting to note how state fixated both the newspapers and the European poll institutes are. There are hundreds of small languages in Europe; some are recognised some are not. Many Europeans speak and understand their regional language as well as the “official” state language.
The regional language, at least in my vocabulary, is the “mother tongue” and the state language is a regional language “with an army behind it”, which has been forced onto the citizens of the state. It should really be referred to as the second language.
The question should therefore be: Do you speak a third language, apart from you mother tongue and the official state language?
It is interesting to note how state fixated both the newspapers and the European poll institutes are. There are hundreds of small languages in Europe; some are recognised some are not. Many Europeans speak and understand their regional language as well as the “official” state language.
The regional language, at least in my vocabulary, is the “mother tongue” and the state language is a regional language “with an army behind it”, which has been forced onto the citizens of the state. It should really be referred to as the second language.
The question should therefore be: Do you speak a third language, apart from you mother tongue and the official state language?
Playing with borders
The Mayor of the City of Malmö made a move on the regional division project last week, just in time for his party’s congress in Malmö. “He wants to see a Great Skåne” the headline in the newspaper reads and he suggests that “The Region of Southern Sweden must be larger than only Skåne”. The Mayor is also chairman of the Association of Municipalities situated in Stockholm. He sits on two stools at the same time and one must always ask what cap he is wearing at any given time.
The proposals vary. The Scanian province of Halland should be split in half. The northern half should be handed over to Gothenburg and its surrounding countryside. The region of Småland should, according to the Mayor, be split in half and the Southern part be incorporated with the Province of Skåne. “We must create strong regions and that means that there are provinces which are impossible to keep intact”, he adds.
Now, why is the political establishment in Sweden (and the Mayor of Malmö is undoubtedly part of this establishment) so keen on continuing centuries of the state policy of “ruling by division”? There is already a beautiful region map to follow, but the political leaders in the country appears to be scared stiff of bringing it to the negotiating table.
The present debate is lacking a long term vision on what is best for the regions in Sweden and the European Union on all areas of society. The debate has instead become the domain of politicians who are allowing themselves to be hypnotized by the present state of public services, particularly within the health and medical services.
There is one lesson the turbulent European history has taught us: never play with borders. And yet, instead of learning how to cooperate accross the borders, the regional division in Sweden is a made into a borders-game with the historic borders as toys in a children’s playground.
The proposals vary. The Scanian province of Halland should be split in half. The northern half should be handed over to Gothenburg and its surrounding countryside. The region of Småland should, according to the Mayor, be split in half and the Southern part be incorporated with the Province of Skåne. “We must create strong regions and that means that there are provinces which are impossible to keep intact”, he adds.
Now, why is the political establishment in Sweden (and the Mayor of Malmö is undoubtedly part of this establishment) so keen on continuing centuries of the state policy of “ruling by division”? There is already a beautiful region map to follow, but the political leaders in the country appears to be scared stiff of bringing it to the negotiating table.
The present debate is lacking a long term vision on what is best for the regions in Sweden and the European Union on all areas of society. The debate has instead become the domain of politicians who are allowing themselves to be hypnotized by the present state of public services, particularly within the health and medical services.
There is one lesson the turbulent European history has taught us: never play with borders. And yet, instead of learning how to cooperate accross the borders, the regional division in Sweden is a made into a borders-game with the historic borders as toys in a children’s playground.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Television and the State
The state television in Sweden, SVT, has decided to abolish the use of foreign titles and names of shows and television programs. From now on The Tonight Show may be translated to Kvällsföreställningen . “We accept our responsibility for the Swedish language, a responsibility which is entered into our broadcast license. I find it very important that our program makers use the Swedish language”, says SVT's program director.
It was only some years ago when all television stations abolished the subtitles and started dubbing children's programs and cartoons. Suddenly Donald Duck started to speak Swedish (i.e. the regional language of Svealand). The next step in the direction of increased state nationalism in Sweden is likely to be the abolishment of subtitles for adults as well and let Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger speak Svealand-Swedish. Maybe, if a country bumpkin is portrayed, they may let a Scanian say something as well. State nationalism in Sweden is again on the rise. State radio and television are obedient subjects to the State.
The word “diversity” in Swedish is “mångfald”. The opposite to “mångfald” is “enfald”. “Enfald” also means “silliness”. Check it out in the dictionary!
It was only some years ago when all television stations abolished the subtitles and started dubbing children's programs and cartoons. Suddenly Donald Duck started to speak Swedish (i.e. the regional language of Svealand). The next step in the direction of increased state nationalism in Sweden is likely to be the abolishment of subtitles for adults as well and let Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger speak Svealand-Swedish. Maybe, if a country bumpkin is portrayed, they may let a Scanian say something as well. State nationalism in Sweden is again on the rise. State radio and television are obedient subjects to the State.
The word “diversity” in Swedish is “mångfald”. The opposite to “mångfald” is “enfald”. “Enfald” also means “silliness”. Check it out in the dictionary!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Regionalism in Italy
According to yesterday’s paper, the Italian Parliament has adopted a proposal to a new constitution, which will give the regions in Italy more political power. The decentralising of political power will particularly cover areas of health and medical services and education. Italy has been known to be as centralistic as states like France and Sweden.That’s good news. Italy is one more state in Europe which has understood the advantages of regionalism. Of course, there are those who object, in Italy the parties in the centre / left who argues that the new constitution will “divide the national unity”. The state centralists are the same all over Europe, may they be left, right or in the middle. No difference.
Most states in Europe have been created by the expansionist ambitions of one “central” region collecting as many cultural regions under its military umbrella as it could until hitting the next state in the making. What has historic expasionism and military conquest got to do with "national unity"?
If there is one state which is particularly suited for a regional division, it’s Italy. Look here.
Friday, October 21, 2005
What is a "National Identity?
A comment was made on one of the entries in the September blog archive the other day, from one of the readers of this blog living in the UK. I think the comment deserves a better destiny than being half hidden away in the archives. I will therefore publish it again here, out in the open. The comment contains some interesting thoughts on the issue of identity and Sweden’s relations to the European Union. The name of the author has been omitted and replace by initials.
Swedish & UK administrations share a similar penchant for centralised seats of political power. Is it a co-incidence that amongst the larger member states of the EU, Britain (England outside London still displays no tangible devolved tiers of accountable governance) and Sweden remain the most hostile to the idea of closer European integration?
Publics and electorates alike in the UK and Sweden labour under the delusion of a threat to their national identity posed by the prospect of closer European ties.
This statement begs a legitimate challenge to perceived orthodoxy:
What is national identity - does it really exist or is it really just a myth propagated by groups with a vested interest in maintaining a charade?
As students of the subject will readily testify the notion of idenity is constructed; shaped by a bewildering array of social and geo-political factors - i.e. history, geography, language and religion. One is tempted to claim that the concept of Nation-States per se is a construct founded upon a series of historical accidents.
Certainly, I have always found that levels of affinity toward any specfic geographical territory increase the smaller said entity is. There is probably some kind of mathematical law to prove this phenomenon but demonstrating its existence would take many years painstaking research.
The more insidious features of entrenched centralising mentality within National adminstrations are widespread across Europe; witness the arbitrary partition of Slaskie and Breizh by national administrations keen to frustrate the emergence of any latent cultural (sub-national) identities that could threaten their respective hegemonies.
I always find it ironic that the British Empire was more than willing to experiment with federal solutions amongst their dominions - Canada, Australia, India all exhibit constitutional hierarchies with federal features; what's more they are successful.
However, when such concepts were proposed for the homeland, they were portrayed by a deeply conservative political establishment as renegade and subversive.
This lack of experience weighs heavily upon the political cutlture of the UK. The annihalation of the YES campaign in last years referendum for an elected Regional Assembly for North East England, in the face of all previous surveys indicating overwhelming support for devolved administrations, illustrates how easily NO campaigners were able to exploit the frightening levels of ignorance amongst the electorate.
People fear what they do not know or understand.
I would be interested to learn more about the general levels of public awareness in matters "Scanian". Are ordinary people interested on a day to day basis? Do similar levels of economic disparity to those exhibited in the UK (the well publicised North-South divide) exist in Sweden?
PD
Alderley Edge
NW England
Magasinet Skåne
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Scanain of the Year – Årets skåning
The tickets to the Årets Skåning Gala has on the 16 November now been released. They can be purchased here. The Gala will take place in the beautiful building in Eslöv – Medborgarhuset – and will be broadcast live in the two Scanian Radio stations simultaneously The program for the occasion is here. Buy now – only a limited number of tickets are available.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Sad faces in Malmö
Malmö FF - the soccer team from the largest city in Skåne - returned from Turkey with sad faces the other week since they lost against the Turkish team Besiktas with 4-2. Malmö FF was expelled from the UEFA Cup tournament. Only one Scanian team remains in the Cup – Halmstad BK. They will play Herta from Berlin in Gothenburg tomorrow Sunday.But Halmstad BK stands as little a chance of making it to the finals as Malmö FF did. No way can the small teams from the cities of Scandinavia compete with the large clubs in Europe. Why? The public support foundation for each team is too small and narrow. Malmö has some 265 000 inhabitants and Halmstad 87 000. Landskrona Bois, another team in the top Swedish league, is operating in a community of 38 000 people. How can they compete with Madrid, Rome, Milan and other cities in Europe with millions of potential supporters each?
The answer? Close down the state based city league and construct a new Scandinavian regional league. That way a Scanian team would be supported by a potential supporter base of 1.5 million people. Suddenly we can recruit the best players in the region into one team and maybe have the finances to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing at home instead of in the Italian Juventus.But that means that state leaders in Stockholm would have to accept that a regional solidarity and unity will develop and they are not likely to do that. The state is using sports for exactly that reason – to maintain legitimacy and solidarity to the state and wouldn’t take the risk to loose that sympathy creating tool.
So we will have to live with mediocre city-based soccer teams, which most likely will be expelled from of every European league tournament also in the future.
Friday, October 14, 2005
”No reason to celebrate”
According to a newspaper article on 30 september, a Scanian politician introduced a bill to the state parliament: “No reason for us to celebrate Gustav Vasa”, he proposed. The Swedish king Gustav Vasa is used as the pretext for the celebration of the newly introduced “Swedish National Day”.
“The Swedish king executed Scanians on the main square of Malmö. It is not reasonable to force the Scanians to celebrate this tyrant”, the politician wrote in his bill. “Besides”, he said, “Scania was a part of Denmark at the time of the reign of this king and the only contacts the Scanians had was through the continuous wars he conducted against Denmark”. “The truth is”, he continued, “that he was a tyrant as well as a book and Convent burner who murdered those who opposed his quest to create the uniform central state”. I wonder how the bill will be met in the Riksdag.
Not only are the Scanians forced to celebrate Gustav Vasa, they also have to look at his face every time they unfold a 1000 kronor bill (fortunately the 5 kronor king-faced bill was taken out of circulation some time ago). But that's another story.
“The Swedish king executed Scanians on the main square of Malmö. It is not reasonable to force the Scanians to celebrate this tyrant”, the politician wrote in his bill. “Besides”, he said, “Scania was a part of Denmark at the time of the reign of this king and the only contacts the Scanians had was through the continuous wars he conducted against Denmark”. “The truth is”, he continued, “that he was a tyrant as well as a book and Convent burner who murdered those who opposed his quest to create the uniform central state”. I wonder how the bill will be met in the Riksdag.
Not only are the Scanians forced to celebrate Gustav Vasa, they also have to look at his face every time they unfold a 1000 kronor bill (fortunately the 5 kronor king-faced bill was taken out of circulation some time ago). But that's another story.
Ten times more expensive
According to an article in the papers the other day, it is ten times as expensive to make a mobile phone call from Skåne to Sjælland (30 kilometres) than from Skåne to Haparanda near the arctic border to Finland (1800 kilometres). Another good example of how the rigid state borders make life hard for those that are caught up on the wrong side. Who said something about integration across the Öresund and free movement of goods and services? Ten times as expensive? Maybe it its time to rent a carrier pigeon.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Fat Karl - Tjocke Karl
Many conquerors or dictators in the world have had a morbid desire to erect statues of themselves in the city squares. The underlying purpose is obvious; the statues will make some people feel like masters and others to bend there heads in submission. The majority of these statues in the world are dismantled when the oppression is gone. This is not the case in Sweden. The Scanian people are constantly reminded of the invading Swedish kings and the Swedish supremacy in the form of statues and names of street and squares. The worst example of this is the statue of Karl X at the Stortorget square in the centre of Malmö. This cruel man – sometimes referred to as Fat Karl (Tjocke Karl) and his son Karl XI - are responsible for tremendous suffering among ancestors of the Scanians; according to some historians they reduced the population of Skåne with some 35-45 percent between 1658 and 1700.A particularly arrogant example of this is the regularly returning “satire” cartoon in the region’s largest newspaper Sydsvenskan. The fact that the cartoon, with the fat king Karl X as the principal character, is offending history conscious Scanians does not seem to bother this Stockholm owned newspaper the slightest bit. It is bad enough having Fat Karl X looking down on you every time you pass the Stortorget square in Malmö, it doesn’t help when the Sydsvenskan is rubbing salt in wound by its insensitive cartoon policy.
In line with George Orwell’s 1984 New-Speak, those that want the statue removed are the disturbed ones and derogatorily described as Scanian “activists, patriots or separatists”.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Under-the-lip snuff
There are about 1.1 million snuffers in Sweden (out of a total of about 9 million). The number of female snuffers have tripled in the last ten years, according to an article in Svenska Dagbladet the other day. Out of the 1.1 million about half want to quit but can’t. Particularly women who, according to the article, suffer more than the men from their habit. The under-the-lip snuff (in the EU referred to as ”snus”) is forbidden in every EU state except Sweden, which obtained an exception when it was banned elsewhere.
The fact that people in Sweden consume such vast amount of snus says something about the level of culture in this country. For me the habit is repulsive and I am glad I don’t have to kiss a woman who uses it. It is in par with the consumption of surströmming, i.e. rotten fish.
The fact that people in Sweden consume such vast amount of snus says something about the level of culture in this country. For me the habit is repulsive and I am glad I don’t have to kiss a woman who uses it. It is in par with the consumption of surströmming, i.e. rotten fish.
Thicker than water
New reports show that Danish language courses are on the advance in Scanian gymnasiums (= approx Senior High School in the USA). That probably means that Scanian teenagers start to look at the shores of the other side of the Öresund as a potential employment market. At one school in Lund the head master said that the number of pupils have more or less doubled every year since they started five years ago. A survey in Denmark shows little or no interest in the Swedish language. "If we started a course in Swedish", says one dean in Helingør’s gymnasium, "the class rooms would be empty".
One newspaper asks: Is it difficult for Scanian students to speak Danish? Not difficult at all, says one young Scanian boy in the same article. “You just use your broadest Scanian idiom and then everything is easy”.
One newspaper asks: Is it difficult for Scanian students to speak Danish? Not difficult at all, says one young Scanian boy in the same article. “You just use your broadest Scanian idiom and then everything is easy”.
Monday, October 03, 2005
The Scanian of the Year 2005
Every year since 1967 the Scanian of the Year (Årets skåning) has been elected by the general public. The list of persons that have received the honour is an impressive one – a power statement of the entertainment and sports sectors of the region. The regional radio stations, together with the foundation Stiftelsen Skåneländska Flaggans Dag, have been responsible for the selection process. This year no less than 140 well know personalities have been nominated. Last week the six nominees with the most number of nominations were presented as the short list. Between 10 to 21 October the second round of nominations through the radio stations will take place, which eventually will name the winner of this year’s Årets skåning.
The short list is as follows:
You can vote here.
The short list is as follows:
- Peps Persson, mucisian.
- Sixten Svensson, the initiator of the uprising after the Gudrun storm
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic, soccer player
- Gunnel Carlsson, TV host for the garden program “Gröna rummet”.
- Jan Brink, dressage rider.
- Jill Johnsson, mucisan
You can vote here.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Happy Birthday – Mahatma!
Today is Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday. He was born on 2 October 1869. He wanted to live a long life but was assassinated on 30 January 1948. His greatest contribution to the world is his concept of non-violence resistance to injustices. Having travelled to Bombay last year I had to seize the opportunity to visit his home, which has been turned into a museum. Quite a humbling experience to walk the floors previously touched by his bare feet and contemplate his few earthly belongings. Some of his more well known wisdoms were framed and hung on the walls of the Mahatma Ghandi house. In honour of his birthday I will quote a few of them here.On democracy.
Democracy is like a little baby – it has to be loved and treated with care. Delicate as both small babies and democracy are, they can easily be abused. Here are Mahatma’s thoughts about democracy.
Democracy and the PeopleOn women
A born democrat is a born disciplinarian. Democracy' comes naturally to him who is habituated normally to yield, willing obedience to al laws, human or divine. Moreover, a democrat must be utterly selfless. He must think and dream not in terms of self or party but only of democracy.
Under democracy, individual liberty of opinion and action is jealously guarded. Claiming the right of free opinion and free action, we must extend the same to others. The rule of majority, when it becomes coercive, is as intolerable as that of a bureaucratic minority. We must patiently try to bring round the minority to our view by gentle persuasion and argument.M. K. Gandhi
Any attempt to limit the opportunities for people to grow to the full potential of each individual, regardless of background or personal situation, is a crime to humanity – may they be women or men, minorities or indigenous populations or any other groups of people in the society. Mahatma’s thoughts should serve as guidance to politicians and all other men in power in all sectors in society. Here are Mahatma’s thoughts about women.
Woman - Not Weaker Sex
To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man's injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man's superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-scarifying, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage? Without her man could not be. If non-violence is the law of our being the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?
Had not man in his blind selfishness crushed woman's soul as he has done or had she not succumbed to the enjoyments, she would have given the world an exhibition of the infinite strength that is latent in her. The world shall see it in all its wonder and glory when woman has secured an equal opportunity for herself with man and fully developed her powers of mutual aid and combination.
- M. K. Gandhi
